Storage battery filling device



Dec, 20, 1938. c. M. BoLlcH l sToRAGE BATTERY FILLING DEVICE V FiledApril 1, 1957 //////W//// I x WM www m ,m W

Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES- PATENT oFI-lcE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices forsupplying storage batteries with distilled or other purifiedwatersuitable for such use.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device which isadapted to be rigidly mounted on the top of a conventional storagebattery and to function in response to initiating manual control tosupply the various cells of the battery with water up to the-desiredlevel and to automatically stop the feeding of said water when suchlevel has been reached.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe above mentioned type which will enable one to test the specificgravity of the solutions in the various cells without .necessitatingremoval of the water' supplying device -and while the cells are out ofcommunication with the water chamber of said device.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which will act as acheck on the level to which water is supplied to the battery cells bythe aforementioned automatically acting control.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this speciiicaton and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a partial vside elevational view and partial verticalsectional view of a conventional storage battery with the watersupplying device embodying this invention properly associated therewith;

Figure 2' is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a portion of themechanism and taken on line 2 -2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 ofFigure 2; and

Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of a portion of thedevice illustrated in Figure 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 5 designates in itsentirety what is intended to be a conventional storage battery havingany suitable numberof cells. Specifically, Figure 1 discloses a storagebattery having three cells. Each een has the conventional upstandingflange 6 in its top wall and through which it is customary to manuallysupply the various cells with distilled water, or the like, and to testthe solutions in the various cells to ascertain the specific gravity ofthe same.

The battery filling or watering device embodying this invention includesa hollow body or receptacle 1 which is provided on its bottom wall witha plurality' of depending annular flanges 8 which are of proper size toseat against the upper 5 surfaces of the ller opening flanges 6 providedfor the various storage battery cells. These flanges 6 and 8 areintended to tightly seat against each other so as to seal the filleropenings for thebattery cells. A small breather or 10 vent opening 9 isformed in each one of the flanges 8 to permit discharge of air from thevarious battery cells as water is supplied thereto. For the purpose ofmounting the water receptacle 'I on the top of the storage battery 5 and15 for causing the flanges 6 and 3 of these elements to tightly seatagainst each other, clamping bolts II) are pivotally connected to earsIl formed on the opposite end walls of the storage battery 5. Thesebolts I0 are adaptedto be moved into'the 20 slots formed in ears l2,carried by the water receptacle 1, for permitting the clamping nuts I3to be tightened down on the bolts Ill and against the slotted ears I2for performing the function described.

As disclosed best in Figures 1 and 2, the bottom 25 wall I4 of thereceptacle l has formed therein two diverging passageways I5 whichextend to the end cells of the storage battery 5. These passage- -WaysI5 include the detachable terminals or 30 elbows I6. One of these elbowsI6 is illustrated in detail in Figure 4 as including a vertical stemportion I'I and an angular foot portion I8. The

, lower end of the foot portion i9 is normally open.

The heel end of the foot portion I8 is provided 35 with an opening I9which is controlled by the pivoted flap valve 2l). This flap valveisintended to move between a closed positionv and a vfullyopened-position. Thlsfully opened position is intended to occur at apoint` just short of the 40 perpendicular so that the valve normaly willbe urged by the pull of gravity into its closed position against theopening I9 at the heel portion of the foot I. The function performed bythese flap Valves 2li will be described ata later point. 45 The elbowsI6 are threaded at their upper ends 2l for connection with nipples 22which depend from the bottom wall I4 of the receptacle 1 within theanges 8 formed on said bottom wall.

The inner ends of the passageways I5 open 50 through the wall of aconical valve seat 23 which is shown in detail in Figures 1, 2,l and 3.l

Extending upwardly through the interior of the receptacle 1 -toterminate abovethe top surface of said receptacle are suitable pipesections 24 55 which are closed at their upper ends by detachable caps25. The lower ends of these pipe sections 244 are threaded in nipplesformed in the upper walls of the passageways I5. The pipe sections 24,therefore, constitute upstanding extensions of the passageways I5.

Figures 2 and 3 disclose a third passageway 26 which communicates atitsinner end with the valve seat 23 and includes an upstanding elbow member21 which is formed with a lower foot portion 28.` This foot portion isopen at its lower end 29 and is provided with a pivoted iiap valve 30 atits heel portion which is of the same construction and functions in thesame manner as the flap valve 20 described in connection with Figure 4.

The elbow 21 has a port 3| which communicates with the horizontallyextending branch of the passageway 25. The elbow 21 extendsperpendicularly through the receptacle 1 to terminate above the same ina threaded extremity 32, to which is threaded a transparent cap 33.

A ball float 34 is'positioned at the point of connection between theperpendicularly extending portion of the elbow 21 and the foo't 28.Spaced ngers 35 function to restrict the downward movement of the float34. A stem 36 extends upwardly from the float 34 through a loose guide31 so as to terminate at its upper end withi the transparent cap 33.

By inspecting Figure 2, it will be seen that the upstanding pipesections 24 and the portion of the elbow 21 which projects upwardlythrough the interior of the receptacle 1 are grouped in such a manner asto function as a guide for a conical valve 38 which is adapted to bemanually moved into and out of engagement with the conical valve seat23. A stem 39 is connected to the conical valve 38 and extends outwardlyof the top wall of the receptacle 1 through a detachable cap or plug 40which is threaded in an opening formed in the top wall of the receptacle1.

This storage battery lling or watering device will be described withreference to its mode of operation in the following manner:

The receptacle 1 is properly positioned upon the storage battery 5 andclamped in place by means of the bolts I0 and adjustable nuts I3. Priorto positioning the receptacle 1 on the storage battery, the variouselbows i6 and 21'should be adjusted so as to locate their foot portionsI8 and 28 at proper levels within the various battery cells. Afterproperly positioning the receptacle,

the cap or plug 40 is removed, with its valve 38,

for feeding water into the chamber or compartment formed within thereceptacle 1. With the valve 38 removed from the valve seat 23, thewater supplied to the receptacle I will ow through the variouspassageways I5 and 26 into the battery cells. f

The admission of water into the elbow portions of the passageways willcause the flap valves 20 and 38 to be raised from their seats. The waterwill continue to ow from the receptacle 1 into f the various cells untilthe level of the water within the cells rises above the seats controlledby the flap valves 20 and 30. As the openings controlled by the flapvalves are closed or covered by the water within the battery cells,further ow of water into the cells from the interior of the receptaclewill cease. 'I'he receptacle 1 then may be completely filled with waterand the cap or plug 40, with its Valve 38, returned to the opening inthe top wall of the receptacle. The valve 38 will be guided intoengagement with the valve seat 23 by the pipe sections 24 and theupstanding portion of the elbow 21.

It will be appreciated that the level of the water in the centralbattery cell will cause the ball float 34 to be elevated, and thisraising of the float will be indicated by the level of the upperextremity of the float rod 36. The position of this upper extremity olthe -rod may be viewed through the transparent cap 33.

After -the battery has remained in service for a suitable length of timeto necessitate feeding additional water to the battery cells, it onlybecomes necessary for a person to lift the valve 38 from its seat bymeans of the rod 38 and, without disturbing the-cap or plug 40, topermit Water to ow from the interior of the receptacle 1 into theseveral battery cells. The openingin the heel portions of the variouselbows I1 and 21 will function in the manner described above forpermitting water to iiow into the battery cells until a proper level isreached in each cell. It will be l appreciated that the automaticstopping of the ow of water to each cell is controlled independently byits flap valve and associated opening.

It will be appreciated that the interior of the receptacle 1 is normallysealed so that a partial vacuum will be established above the waterlevel therein as water is discharged from the receptacle into thevarious cells. Of course, if too great a vacuum were to be formed abovethe water within the receptacle 1, this water would not flow into thevarious battery cells. The openings controlled by the flap valves 20 and30 in the various elbows, however, permit air to pass from the variousbattery cells up into the interior of the receptacle 1. However, as theopenings controlled by the flap valves are closed or sealed by the waterrising within the battery cells, this movement of air from the cellsinto the receptacle 1 ceases, and the vacuum condition above the waterwithin the receptacle becomes such that no additional water will ow fromthe receptacle into the various battery cells. The vents or breather.openings 9 permit air to be admitted into the various battery cells orto be discharged therefrom as the water level within the cells varies.

To enable the owner of a battery equipped with this watering or fillingdevice to ascertain the specic gravity of the solutions within the.various battery cells, the caps 25 and 33 may be removed to permit ahydrometer to be connected to the pipe sections 24 and the upperextremity of the elbow 21. The hydrometer, when connected to any one ofthese upstanding elements, may be employed to suck Water from therespective battery cells and obtain a reading in the conventionalmanner.

When an ordinary bulb type hydrometer is attached, for instance, to thetop of the pipe section 24, the small volume of air contained in thepipe 24, the passageway I5, and the pipe I6 will be drawn into therubber bulb of the hydrometer thus forming a partial vacuum. Thispartial vacuum within the pipe I6 will cause thevalve, 20 to be tightlypressed against its seat by atmospheric pressure. This partial Vacuumwill also cause the electrolyte to rise in the pipe I6, throughpassageway I5 of pipe 24, and into the hydrometer for testing. Thepurpose of the valve 20 is to seal opening I9 when the suction isapplied at 24 and the purpose of the lower port in the foot I8 is topermit withdrawal of the electrolyte in which this port is alwayssubmerged. Valve 30 functions in the same manner and serves the samepurpose.

-It will be -appreciated that this battery lling or watering device isvery beneficial where the storage battery equipped with the same islocated under a floor board of a motor vehicle. A small opening may beprovided in this iloor board through which the upper ends of the' pipesections 24 and the upper extremity of the elbow 21 may extend. If thisarrangement is not desired, the caps 25 and 33 may be located just belowthe floor board, and access to these caps may be had by removing a smallcover for the floor board opening.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example-of the same andthatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the type described, the combination with a storagebattery having a plurality of cells of a water receptacle mounted onthestorage battery, passageways leading from said receptacle to theinterior of each of said battery cells, said passageways terminating ina pipe structure' open at the lower end and having a port in the wall ofthe pipe structure above said open lower end, a valve adapted to closesaid sageways and for closing said passageways from 'each other, andconduits leading from each of said passageways to permit the withdrawalof electrolytes by suction. y

2. In a device of the type described, the combination with a storagebattery having a plurality of cells of a water receptacle. mounted onthe storage battery, passageways leading from the interior of saidreceptacle to the interior of each battery cell, said passagewaysterminating in a pipe structure open at the lower end and having a portin the wall of the pipe structure above said open .lower end, a flapvalve adapted to close said wall port, single means for controllingcommunication between the receptacle and all of said passageways and forclosing said passageways from each other, and pipes leading from each ofeach of said passageways upward through said receptacle to the topthereof to permit withdrawal of electrolytes by suction.

CHARLES M. BOLICH.

